Housing predicament: Efforts to address abandoned homes are moving forward vigorously
The UK, Wales, and the Isle of Man are taking decisive steps to address the housing crisis by renovating vacant buildings and converting them into affordable housing for low-income residents. In Wales, the Welsh Government launched the National Empty Home Grant Programme in January 2023, with the aim of making vacant properties safe and improving their energy efficiency rating. The programme provides grants up to £250,000 for individual owners of private properties. The Isle of Man Government's Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) is planning to follow suit, with measures to renovate vacant buildings and convert them into affordable housing for low-income residents set to be implemented in the coming months. However, the Isle of Man does not currently have a program similar to the Welsh Government's National Empty Home Grant Programme. The Isle of Man's plan to tackle vacant properties includes an amendment by Treasury Minister Alex Allison to include penalties for all vacant buildings, which gained support in May 2023. Under current rules, there are no penalties for leaving a property empty on the Isle of Man. The goal of these programmes is to bring 2,000 long-term empty properties back into use. In the Isle of Man, approximately 5,600 vacant homes were revealed in the 2021 census, including flats, houses, and cottages used as holiday accommodation. Tackling empty properties is a key priority for Caerphilly County Borough Council in Wales, as they are considered a blight on local communities and a magnet for anti-social behavior. On 21 June, they reminded owners of private properties that have been empty for up to 12 months to renovate them. In the UK, the programme is part of a national effort to address the housing crisis. Soaring costs have hit low-income households particularly hard, with millions reporting they have had to cut out basic necessities like heating and food to pay their bills. Tynwald, the Parliament of the Isle of Man, has backed a bid to tackle vacant and derelict properties within their region. The Isle of Man's efforts to address vacant properties are distinct from the national effort in the UK. The Treasury must report back to Tynwald by the end of October. The programme in the Isle of Man has a total of £5m available and is set to run over the next two years. Jason Moorhouse, MHK, called for the rates for buildings in disrepair to be reinstated in May 2023, which could further aid in the renovation of vacant properties. These initiatives are a significant step towards addressing the housing crisis in the UK, Wales, and the Isle of Man, providing affordable housing options for low-income residents and revitalizing communities impacted by vacant properties.
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